I had a believe that the carvings and sculptures of the Sun temple at Konark, Odisha is the zenith of a sculptor’s expertise. But now, after visiting Halebidu and Belur, I am certain to have discovered a higher summit. Although it hits my pride of being an Odia, I must accept that the sculptors of Hoysala empire were more proficient than ours.

These rich temples built in the 12th century (started in 1121) were plundered and destroyed by Ala-ud-Din Khilji, Islamic ruler of Delhi Sultanate as evident from the hundreds of mutilated sculptures of the temples. Most of the sculptures are without heads and hands, yet what remains is enough to testify the expert craftsmanship of the artists of that time. Read more